Southern Pacific · Golfo Dulce
Pavones
One of the longest left-hand point breaks on Earth. On a solid south swell you get 3-minute rides.
When: May to October (south-swell season)
Getting there: 6-hour drive from Santa Teresa, or fly SJO → Golfito
The complete guide · Written by locals
How to plan a trip to Santa Teresa, Costa Rica
Everything we tell friends before they visit: which airport, how the ferry works, when to come, where to stay across Santa Teresa, Mal País, Manzanillo, Playa Hermosa, Montezuma, Cabuya, and Tambor — plus our favourite trips elsewhere in Costa Rica, from Pavones to Arenal to the Caribbean coast.
Getting to Santa Teresa
Santa Teresa sits at the tip of the Nicoya Peninsula on Costa Rica's Pacific coast. There's no direct international flight — you'll land in San José or Liberia, then continue by shuttle, rental car, or a small domestic plane. Budget half a day for the journey either way.
Flights & airports
SJO
Juan Santamaría International (San José)
Best for
Cheapest international flights, more airline options, closest to Arenal & Caribbean
Trade-off
5-hour transfer to Santa Teresa including a ferry
LIR
Daniel Oduber International (Liberia)
Best for
Fastest access to Guanacaste beaches, direct from many US cities
Trade-off
4-hour drive to Santa Teresa via Tempisque bridge — no ferry
TMU
Tambor Regional (domestic)
Best for
Sansa flies SJO → Tambor in 25 min, then 45 min taxi to Santa Teresa
Trade-off
Small planes, weight limits, occasional weather cancellations
Book flights 6–10 weeks out for the best fares. December through March and July/August are peak — book earlier. Sansa (the domestic carrier) opens seats ~6 months ahead; the SJO → Tambor leg is the game-changer if you don't want to spend a day in transit.
Transport from the airport
- Shared shuttle ($55–65/pp): The default. Companies like Zuma Tours, Interbus, and Monkey Ride pick up from SJO, drive to Puntarenas, load onto the Naviera Tambor ferry (1 hr), then continue to Santa Teresa. Total: 5–5.5 hours.
- Private transfer ($280–350): Same route, your own vehicle, faster stops. Worth it for 3+ people or with kids.
- Rental 4×4 ($45–70/day): Freedom to explore Mal País, Manzanillo, and hidden beaches. Reserve months ahead in high season. You want 4×4 clearance — Santa Teresa's roads are dirt.
- SJO → TMU on Sansa ($90–140): 25 min in the air, then a 45-min $50 taxi. Fastest option; small planes have 30lb checked luggage limits.
- Public bus ($25): Doable but takes 7+ hours and multiple transfers. Only for die-hard budget travelers.
Weather & when to visit
Jan–Feb
Dry, warm, sunny, offshore winds. Peak surf season for beginners.
Mar–Apr
Hottest and driest. Water warms up. Perfect glassy dawns.
May
Green season starts — mornings dry, brief afternoon rain, first south swells.
Jun–Jul
Warm rain most afternoons, jungle explodes green, best waves of the year.
Aug
Mini-summer break in the rain, warm water, playful waves, family-friendly.
Sep–Oct
Rainiest, quietest, cheapest. Empty line-ups. Caribbean is sunny — go east.
Nov
Rains end, jungle still green, dry season begins with punchy peaks.
Dec
Sunny, festive, medium swells. Book early — Christmas/NYE fills up fast.
The Pacific coast has two distinct seasons: dry (Dec–Apr) with sun and offshore winds, and green (May–Nov) with warm afternoon rain, lush jungle, and the biggest swells. Locals prefer September and October — quieter, cheaper, and often magical.
Where to stay: neighborhoods
"Santa Teresa" is really a chain of villages along a single dirt road hugging the coast. Where you sleep changes your trip.
Santa Teresa
Yoga studios, açaí bowls, sunset surf, and the buzziest strip
Best for
First-timers, digital nomads, surfers who want everything walking distance
Surf
Playa Santa Teresa — the main beach break. All levels.
Mal País
Quieter fishing village 5 min south, rocky coves, empty roads
Best for
Couples, families, anyone wanting to escape the main strip at night
Surf
Playa Carmen (mellow) and reef breaks (advanced)
Playa Hermosa
Long empty beach 10 min north, palm-lined, dramatic sunsets
Best for
Beginners wanting space, photographers, those who want fewer crowds
Surf
Playa Hermosa — long forgiving peaks, ideal for learning
Manzanillo (Pacific)
Sleepy fishing hamlet 20 min north, off-grid feeling, jungle rivers
Best for
Off-grid seekers, families, surfers with a rental car
Surf
Playa Manzanillo — uncrowded rights and lefts
Montezuma
Bohemian jungle village on the east side, waterfalls, bookshops
Best for
Non-surfers, backpackers, hippies, waterfall lovers
Surf
Not a surf town — take a taxi to Santa Teresa (45 min)
Cabuya
Tiny village between Montezuma and Cabo Blanco reserve
Best for
Peace-seekers, yoga retreat guests, wildlife photographers
Surf
Rocky coast — surf trips to Santa Teresa or Playa Hermosa
Tambor
Calm-water bay 45 min north, home to the local airport
Best for
Families with small kids, easy fly-in/fly-out stays
Surf
No surf — flat bay. Drive to Santa Teresa for waves.
Types of accommodation
- Hostels & surf camps ($20–45/night): Selina, Don Jon's, Tranquilo, Casa Zen. Dorms + private rooms, communal yoga, easy way to meet other surfers.
- Guesthouses & B&Bs ($60–120): Family-run cabinas, often with pool, walking distance to the beach. Best value.
- Boutique jungle hotels ($150–400): Nantipa, Hotel Tropico Latino, Latitude 10. Ocean-view rooms, private plunge pools, on-site restaurants.
- Private villas ($400–2,000+): Whole-house rentals on Airbnb / VRBO with jungle pools and private chefs. Perfect for groups, families, or retreats.
- Surf-and-stay retreats: All-inclusive weeks with lessons, yoga, meals, and adventures — see our 2027 retreat calendar.
Day trips from Santa Teresa
- Montezuma waterfalls — 45 min drive. Three-tier jungle waterfall you can swim under. Go early.
- Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve — Costa Rica's oldest protected area. Howler monkeys, coati, empty beach at the end of the trail.
- Isla Tortuga snorkel day — Boat leaves from Tambor. Turquoise water, coral, ceviche lunch on the beach.
- Playa Hermosa sunset — 10 min north. The most photographed sunset in the region.
- Manzanillo tide pools — 20 min north. Low tide reveals crystal pools you can swim in.
Our favourite trips elsewhere in Costa Rica
If you're flying all this way, extend your trip. These are the places we personally send friends — the ones that make Costa Rica unforgettable beyond Santa Teresa.
South Pacific · Corcovado gateway
Matapalo & Osa Peninsula
Three world-class point breaks (Pan Dulce, Backwash, Matapalo) inside primary rainforest with scarlet macaws overhead.
When: Year-round; best swells April to October
Getting there: Fly SJO → Puerto Jiménez, then 45-min drive
Northern Pacific · dry & sunny
Guanacaste — Tamarindo, Nosara, Playa Grande
The most consistent surf coast. Nosara is refined yoga-and-longboard energy; Tamarindo is party-town with waves; Playa Grande is turtle nesting + empty peaks.
When: Year-round; driest December to April
Getting there: Fly LIR (Liberia) direct from many US cities
Central highlands
Arenal Volcano & hot springs
Perfect cone volcano, hanging bridges, and the best natural hot springs in the country. Tabacón and free Río Chollín are the classic picks.
When: December to April (fewer clouds); rest of year for lush green
Getting there: 5 hours from Santa Teresa via Tempisque bridge
Northern volcanic corridor
Rincón de la Vieja
Active volcano national park with mud pots, waterfalls, and lesser-known hot springs (Río Negro). Half the tourists of Arenal.
When: Dry season for hiking (Dec–Apr)
Getting there: 1 hour east of Liberia airport
Central Valley near San José
Poás & Irazú Volcanoes
Both are drive-up craters — Poás has an acid-green lake, Irazú has moonscape views to two oceans on clear days.
When: Dry season mornings, arrive by 8am
Getting there: 1–2 hours from SJO airport
Southern Caribbean · Talamanca
Manzanillo (Caribbean)
Reggae villages, sloths in the trees, snorkeling on coral, Afro-Caribbean cuisine, and empty white-sand beaches. Not to be confused with the Pacific Manzanillo.
When: September and October — sunny while the rest of the country rains
Getting there: Fly SJO → Limón, or drive 5 hrs from San José
Southern Caribbean
Puerto Viejo & Cahuita
The Caribbean's soul. Cahuita National Park has howler monkeys walking the beach path. Salsa Brava at Puerto Viejo is Costa Rica's heaviest wave.
When: September–October or February–March
Getting there: 20 min north of Manzanillo Caribbean
Central mountains
Monteverde Cloud Forest
Walk through a literal cloud on suspension bridges. Quetzals, misty ridges, and the country's best canopy zip-line.
When: Year-round; misty always
Getting there: 4 hrs from Santa Teresa
Osa Peninsula
Corcovado National Park
National Geographic called it 'the most biologically intense place on Earth'. Tapirs, jaguars (rarely), all 4 monkey species, hundreds of birds.
When: Dry season Dec–Apr for hiking
Getting there: Guided-only via Drake Bay or Puerto Jiménez
Frequently asked questions
What airport should I fly into for Santa Teresa, Costa Rica?+
San José (SJO) is cheapest with the most flight options but a 5-hour transfer. Liberia (LIR) is 4 hours by road with no ferry. For the shortest journey, fly SJO and connect on Sansa to Tambor (TMU) — 25 minutes in the air, then a 45-minute taxi.
How do I get from the airport to Santa Teresa?+
From SJO the classic route is a shared shuttle (~$55/pp) or private transfer that drives to Puntarenas, takes the 1-hour Naviera Tambor ferry to Paquera, then drives 90 min to Santa Teresa. From LIR you drive south via the Tempisque bridge, about 4 hours. From Tambor airport (TMU) a taxi is 45 minutes.
When is the best time of year to visit Santa Teresa?+
December to April is dry, sunny, and busy — best for first-time visitors. May and November are shoulder months with green landscapes and fewer crowds. June to October is green season: afternoon rain, empty beaches, the best waves of the year, and the lowest prices.
Where should I stay — Santa Teresa, Mal País, or somewhere else?+
Santa Teresa main strip is best for first-timers and social travelers. Mal País is quieter for couples and families. Playa Hermosa suits beginner surfers wanting space. Manzanillo (Pacific) is off-grid. Montezuma is for non-surfers who love waterfalls. Tambor is a calm bay for families with small kids.
Do I need a rental car in Santa Teresa?+
Not if you stay on the main strip — everything is walkable or a $3 quad-taxi. A 4x4 rental is worth it if you want to explore Mal País, Manzanillo, hidden beaches, or hike Cabo Blanco reserve. Roads are dirt and sometimes rough in green season.
Ready to plan?
Let us handle the surf part
Book a retreat, a private lesson week, or just an epic dawn session. We live here and we know the swell.